Acupuncture is an ancient Eastern healing medical system dating back at least 3,000 years. Ancient texts mapped in detail specific acupuncture points, and how human energy circulates, interconnects, and interacts with the environment. Treatment consists of stimulation of these points using fine needles, which may be further stimulated with heat or electricity.

 what is acupuncture? 

Fascia is the dense membrane that wraps, connects and supports all of the muscles (myo = muscle) in the body. Taught, dense, and/or painful areas of muscle and fascia are stimulated using acupuncture needles without the injection of any medication (hence, “dry needling”) to calm and release the tense tissue allowing for more freedom of movement and less pain. 

Trigger point injections are direct injections of lidocaine into points of tension in the muscle tissue that cause specific pain radiation patterns.

what is “dry needling”?

trigger point injections?

Human touch is powerful. The use of human hands in a heart-centered and intentional way can help to deeply support and facilitate physical, emotional, mental and spiritual health.

This technique is extremely calming, non-invasive, non-toxic, and often surprisingly effective to reduce the body’s stress response, pain, and anxiety. This calming, in turn, helps evoke the healing processes of the body by down-regulating the body’s fight-or-flight (sympathetic) response and up-regulating the healing (parasympathetic) response.

what is hands-on healing?

acupuncture

The scientific evidence behind the way acupuncture works and its efficacy is growing + gaining significant traction.

Modern research has found acupuncture points to be indeed active, biochemically and neurologically. 

Such renowned groups such as The World Health Organization, the American College of Physicians, and the NIH's National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health all agree that acupuncture can help manage and improve a variety of conditions, from pain to allergies to depression.

Here are some helpful articles on the science:

dry needling, trigger point injections, + steroid injections

 
 

Research supporting the use of dry needling and trigger point injections is not definitive but is currently growing. Clinically, Dr. Shah has seen these modalities to be very beneficial for patients, especially for treating acute muscle spasms and tension.

Research evidence suggests superior results with dry needling for functional outcomes when compared to no treatment or sham (faux) needling, you can see the meta analysis study here.

Trigger point injections are an effective treatment modality for inactivating trigger points and providing prompt relief of symptoms from myofascial pain, you can read more here and here.

Cortiosteroid injections are a standard of care in Western allopathic medicine, learn more here.

Dr. Shah understands that the science behind hands-on healing is extremely murky. However, in practice, she has seen it work as a great adjunct to calming the body’s stress response and therefore employs this non-evidence-based healing method.

hands-on healing



acupuncture

Dr. Shah employs Japanese-style acupuncture (Kiiko Matsumoto style), which is a gentler treatment style than the traditional Chinese approach, as part of her integrative medicine toolbox.

It emphasizes palpation of the body as a form of "checks and balances" to ensure accurate treatment. Japanese-style acupuncture also uses finer needles and less depth than the traditional Chinese approach.

In addition to body acupuncture, sessions with Dr. Shah may include auricular acupuncture (which you take home with you), Yamamoto scalp acupuncture, electrically stimulated acupuncture (“electro-acupuncture”), cupping, and gua-sha.

Facial Rejuvenation and Scar Treatments

Dr. Shah offers cosmetic acupuncture including scar treatments and facial rejuvenation which uses microneedling (smaller acupuncture needles) to stimulate collagen production. If interested, please inquire.

dry needling, trigger point injections, + steroid injections

Dr. Shah’s dry needling technique uses acupuncture (monofilament) needles which are used to stimulate tense muscles and fascia to create a muscle spasm which subsequently softens the tissue.

Dr. Shah also employs lidocaine-infused trigger point injections which are administered through a regular syringe.

Corticosteroid (steroid) joint injections may also be offered when needed for pain relief.

hands-on healing

Dr. Shah deliberately places her hands on designated areas of the body with clear intention and full presence. She may also employ gentle manual osteopathic fascial release techniques.

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